Countryside Volunteers

The opportunities to volunteer for Dudley Countryside Services are many and varied. For example, you can get involved in:

practical conservation work

inspiring the next generation about nature conservation

helping at events

monitoring the local press

surveying wildlife and visitors

helping prepare leaflets and other educational material

keeping an eye on our cattle

You don’t need to have any experience, as you will receive all the necessary training and guidance.

Being a volunteer is a rewarding experience, allowing you to develop existing and new skills and interests, to meet new friends, have great fun and, above all, to contribute to the conservation of some of Dudley’s most valuable assets. Dudley has a rich and varied heritage of global significance - it is the Birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, has perhaps the most diverse geology of anywhere in the UK and supports internationally important populations of wildlife.

Volunteering provides you with opportunities to learn more about the wonders of the local environment, to keep physically and mentally active, to develop an existing or new hobby, to provide work experience as part of school, college or university study, and to enhance career development – several of our wardens started their careers through volunteering, some in Dudley.

Volunteers play an invaluable role in helping to help conserve and manage this natural and cultural heritage - during 2004/05, volunteers collectively worked about 8,000 hours, equivalent to four full-time members of staff. In July 2005, we presented a long service award to a volunteer who has worked at Wren’s Nest for the last 15 years.

Due to the physical nature of much of the work, prospective volunteers need to complete a Health Declaration form and, since children are regular visitors to our sites, also have an enhanced disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau under the Protection of Children Act (1999).

We appreciate your interest in working with us and look forward to hearing from you and hopefully welcoming you to the network of volunteers who help us to work for a borough rich in wildlife, which is valued and enjoyed by many people.

If you are interested in volunteering at a particular site, please contact the Senior Warden at the nature reserve that you are interested in, to arrange a visit: